Create interlaced H.264 files in Final Cut Pro X and Compressor

With Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2 and Compressor 4.2.1, you can automatically create interlaced H.264 files from interlaced source media.

Although most projects for the web or HD channels are shot, edited, and delivered using a progressive format, some broadcasters require deliverables in an interlaced format.

Previous versions of Final Cut Pro X and Compressor generated a progressive media file regardless of the field dominance of your project or source. When you update to Final Cut Pro X 10.2.2 and Compressor 4.2.1, you can set up your workflow to automatically export to interlaced H.264:

Start with interlaced source media or an interlaced project. This will be NTSC, PAL, or any HD format that contains an "i" in the frame size or frame rate (like 1080i or 60i).

Use a transcode that's set to configure field dominance based on your source media.

For example, when the "Field order" setting in your Compressor workflow is set to "Same as Source" and your source media is interlaced, the output created from Compressor is also interlaced. If you're using interlaced source media but you don't want to output to interlaced media, be sure to check your workflow settings before exporting.

Learn more

Processing interlaced source files might take longer than progressive media files. You can learn more about working with interlaced media from Compressor Help.